From Expertise to Authority with Matty Dalrymple

Matty Dalrymple
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Building professional presence for your second act career or sideline venture, with a practical framework for transforming expertise into influence and income. fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com

  1. Oct 15

    Becoming the Author of Your Own Story with Joanne McLaughlin

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple How can the skills from a long journalism career become the foundation for a rewarding second act as a novelist? Journalist, editor, and novelist Joanne McLaughlin joins Matty Dalrymple to discuss how decades of reporting and editing taught her to learn new subjects quickly, understand context, anticipate a reader’s perspective, and earn trust.Joanne explains why broad and sometimes unusual knowledge can be as valuable as narrow expertise; how she balances factual research with imaginative freedom in her fiction; and why getting small details right supports credibility in both journalism and novels. She also shares an early-career trial by fire that required her to grow into authority before she felt fully prepared, along with lessons from beta reading fiction and editing memoir.The conversation explores what it means to be a “recovering journalist,” how professional pride changes when your work moves from many bylines to your own name, and why success in a second act does not have to mean bestseller lists. For writers, editors, journalists, and professionals considering a career transition, this episode offers a thoughtful look at carrying hard-won expertise into new work, defining success on your own terms, and becoming the author of your own story. Joanne McLaughlin began with superhero stories in second grade, then wrote a play staged in her fourth- and sixth-grade classrooms. Much later, she worked in newspapers and public media on award-winning coverage of politics and public health, fashion and financial markets, plus Pulitzer Prize-finalist architecture criticism and a Peabody Award-nominated podcast on COVID vaccine distribution. Her novels include Murder in Act One (available in September), A Poetic Puzzle, Chasing Ashes, and the vampire trilogy Never Before Noon, Never Until Now, and Never More Human. Find her most recent short fiction in Behind the Revolving Door, Vol. 1. Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Oct 3

    Building an Adaptable Expertise-Based Business with Shelby Leigh

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple How do you turn professional expertise into a business that can keep evolving as platforms, customer attitudes, and your own interests change? Author, marketing strategist, and business coach Shelby Leigh joins Matty Dalrymple to discuss her path from corporate marketing and promoting her own books to teaching thousands of creative entrepreneurs.Shelby explains why she tested her methods with other authors before charging, how she learned curriculum design and teaching to support her marketing expertise, and how she recognized the point when continued learning had become a substitute for action. She also shares the vulnerability of promoting a personal brand and the importance of making knowledge repeatable for clients and students.As enthusiasm for social media shifted, Shelby expanded from platform-specific guidance into broader content marketing, including email, podcasting, and audience ownership. For writers, coaches, consultants, and creative professionals, this conversation offers practical ideas for building authority, diversifying an expertise-based business, and adapting without losing sight of the value at its center. Shelby Leigh is the bestselling author of 4 books with over 60,000 copies sold, a marketing and business coach to over 10,000 students in her programs, and a passionate mental health advocate. With over a decade of marketing and branding experience, Marketing by Shelby is a go-to resource for creatives like artists and authors to learn how to grow their business and market their work in a way that feels aligned, and make an impact and income along the way, too. You can learn more at marketingbyshelby.com. Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Sep 10

    Choosing Paths that Fit Your Strengths with Claire Taylor

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple How can you build authority without forcing yourself into a career path that drains you? Fiction author, independent publisher, and story and career consultant Claire Taylor joins Matty Dalrymple to explain how she combined her writing and editing experience with the Enneagram to help writers make decisions that fit their motivations, energy, and strengths.Claire traces her path from in-house editing and fiction writing to coaching, courses, and business training. She shares how client questions pulled her into deeper expertise; why she uses enjoyment and post-work energy as tests for which offers to continue; and how beta launches, waitlists, transparent marketing, and returning students helped her test demand without overcommitting. She also discusses generosity with her email list, balancing a beginner’s mindset with earned confidence, internal versus external authority, and why client results are more meaningful proof of expertise than self-declaration. For writers, coaches, consultants, and creative professionals, this conversation offers a practical approach to building a sustainable body of work by testing ideas, learning from dead ends, and choosing opportunities that align with what you do well, enjoy, and can use to help others. Claire Taylor has spent the last decade as a full-time fiction author, an independent publisher, and a highly sought-out story and career consultant for writers. Using her Enneagram expertise, she's individually coached hundreds of writers, from those new to the industry to those with seven-figure success, to overcome their fears so that they can take sustainable action that will inspire their writing and their readers for decades to come. Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Aug 25

    Cheek and Curiosity: Building Creative Authority with Roz Morris

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple How do you turn years of hands-on creative experience into authority that reaches beyond a single job or client? Novelist, memoirist, developmental editor, writing coach, and ghostwriter Roz Morris joins Matty Dalrymple to trace a career built through publishing apprenticeships, thoughtful risk-taking, and an enduring curiosity about how stories work. Roz explains how a small-press role gave her experience across novels, guidebooks, magazines, and newspapers; why an unexpected flyer inspired a “cheeky letter” that opened a new professional door; and how proving she could solve a publisher’s problem led to further ghostwriting opportunities. She also discusses how blogging and the Nail Your Novel books helped establish her reputation, how she developed courses for writers, and why sharing expertise requires more than knowing the craft yourself. The conversation explores developmental editing as a collaborative and nurturing practice, the importance of understanding genre expectations, the challenge of finding the right audiences for different kinds of work, and the value of staying curious. For writers, editors, coaches, consultants, and other creative professionals, this episode offers a candid look at building authority by recognizing what you already know, making an audacious approach, serving your community, and continuing to deepen your expertise. Roz Morris is a novelist, memoirist, and professional story whisperer. She’s the author of acclaimed literary novels with BIG emotional canvases, and memoirs that find meaning in unadventures. She's also a developmental editor and writing coach and has helped shape books that have sold more than four million copies—some of those from behind the scenes as a ghostwriter. She’s the creator of the Nail Your Novel series for writers and the blog of the same name. She's judged literary prizes including the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award and Vine Leaves Press New Voices competition, and has taught masterclasses for The Guardian in London and Jane Friedman’s online academy. Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Jul 23

    Building Authority by Serving Your Professional Community with Connie Johnson Hambley

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video: https://tinyurl.com/FETA028YT2 Building authority isn't only about demonstrating expertise—it's also about serving the community around you. Matty Dalrymple talks with Connie Johnson Hambley about how volunteering, moderating panels, interviewing authors, and preparing relentlessly helped her become a trusted leader in the crime-writing community. Connie shares why service creates visibility, why professionalism matters, how thorough preparation adds value, and why paying it forward ultimately benefits both the community and your own career. Whether you're an author or another professional looking to grow your reputation, this conversation offers practical ideas for turning expertise into authority. CONNIE JOHNSON HAMBLEY began plotting harm and mayhem against all bad guys, real and imagined, at the ripe age of six when an arsonist torched her family's farm. When receiving her law degree didn't provide adequate tools for revenge, she turned to fiction where the tools were far more satisfying. Her short stories appear in the Anthony Award-winning Mystery Writers of America's anthology, Crime Hits Home, as well as Mystery Magazine, several Best New England Crime Stories, and the upcoming 2026 Bouchercon anthology, The Lines We Cross. Her journalism credits include Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Financial Advisor, and Nature. Two of her novels won Best Fiction at the EQUUS International Film Festival in New York City. She serves on the committee of the New England Crime Bake conference, interviews authors at the Newburyport Literary Festival, and remains a passionate supporter of perpetrators of (fictional) crime. MATTY DALRYMPLE is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Jul 17

    When Your Message Makes Enemies

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple Every time you step into meaningful—or controversial—territory as a speaker, you risk drawing a hostile reaction from your audience. In this solo episode of From Expertise to Authority, Matty Dalrymple shares a chapter from her book "From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker" (co-authored with Michael La Ronn) on recognizing, preparing for, and responding to hecklers—on stage and online. You'll learn:- Why hecklers are rare, and what raises your odds of encountering one- How to protect yourself emotionally and keep your composure in the moment- How to tell a heckler who just wants a reaction from one with a legitimate point buried in the outburst- Practical tactics for handling a heckler without turning it into a one-on-one standoff- What to do when a virtual audience member turns hostile- When — and how — to end a talk early if a situation escalates Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Jul 12

    From Cult Survivor to Coach: Writing as a Path to Healing with Alexandra Amor

    Audio on the From Expertise to Authority podcast at https://pod.link/1865211396 Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple What does it take to turn the hardest chapter of your life into a career built on helping others heal? In this episode, Matty Dalrymple talks with Alexandra Amor, who spent ten years in a cult in her twenties before leaving and spending decades making sense of what had happened to her. Alexandra shares how the disconnect between what a group preached and how it behaved became the signal that something was deeply wrong, why she turned to psychological and sociological research to understand her experience, and how that research eventually became an award-winning, best-selling memoir. She talks candidly about the difference between being taught and being led, why cult survivors often don't realize they're in a cult until well after they leave, and how writing her story became the foundation for a second career coaching other survivors and independently published authors. The conversation also covers what Alexandra looks for before saying yes to a podcast interview, the value of speaking in “sound bites” without losing your humanity, and why she believes creativity, more than expertise alone, is what helps people heal after trauma. Whether you're interested in the psychology of cults, the process of turning a difficult personal story into a book, or practical tips for showing up well as a podcast guest, this conversation offers something valuable. Alexandra Amor coaches cult survivors who want to tell their stories in writing. She began her writing career with an Amazon best-selling, award-winning memoir about ten years she spent in a cult in the 1990s. She is also The Self-Publishing Coach, helping writers to publish their books while avoiding the scams and hassles. Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Jun 19

    My Substack Course Adjustment

    Article at https://substack.com/@mattydalrymple Video at https://www.youtube.com/@mattydalrymple Have you ever started down a path that seemed right—only to realize mid-journey that a course adjustment was in order?In this episode of From Expertise to Authority, host Matty Dalrymple shares the behind-the-scenes story of how a conversation about creator patronage prompted her to rethink her entire Substack strategy—and ultimately her YouTube approach as well.What you'll learn:• Why Matty moved away from a paid/free content split on her FETA Substack• How the goal of writing a book shaped (and complicated) her content strategy—and why she let it go• What a more informal, exploratory tone means for the future of FETA content• How her YouTube channel is evolving to prioritize audio over videoWhether you're building your own platform for a sideline or second act—or just navigating the ever-shifting landscape of content creation—this episode offers an honest, relatable look at what it means to stay flexible and follow what actually works. #ProfessionalDevelopment #SecondActCareer #SidelineCareer #CareerTransition #Sidehustle #FromExpertiseToAuthority Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she’s learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority. Get full access to From Expertise to Authority at fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com/subscribe

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Building professional presence for your second act career or sideline venture, with a practical framework for transforming expertise into influence and income. fromexpertisetoauthority.substack.com

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